Reading Stadium
Racing venue in Berkshire, England 1975–2008
title: "Reading Stadium" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["defunct-greyhound-racing-venues-in-the-united-kingdom", "sports-venues-in-reading,-berkshire", "defunct-sports-venues-in-berkshire", "defunct-speedway-venues-in-england", "1975-establishments-in-england", "2008-disestablishments-in-england", "sports-venues-completed-in-1975", "sports-venues-demolished-in-2008", "demolished-sports-venues-in-the-united-kingdom"] description: "Racing venue in Berkshire, England 1975–2008" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_Stadium" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Racing venue in Berkshire, England 1975–2008 ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox venue"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Reading Stadium |
| image | Reading Greyhound Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 8126.jpg |
| location | Bennet Road, Reading, Berkshire |
| opened | 1975 |
| closed | 2008 |
| operator | Allied Presentations 1975-2001 |
| BS Group/Gaming International 2002-2008 | |
| :: |
| name = Reading Stadium | nickname = | image = Reading Greyhound Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 8126.jpg | location = Bennet Road, Reading, Berkshire | coordinates = | opened = 1975 | renovated = | expanded = | closed = 2008 | owner = | operator = Allied Presentations 1975-2001 BS Group/Gaming International 2002-2008 | surface =
Reading Stadium also known as Smallmead Stadium was an English greyhound racing and speedway stadium in Bennet Road, Reading in the county of Berkshire.
It is not to be confused with Reading Stadium on the Oxford Road that closed in 1974 and was located further to the north of Reading.
Origins
In 1974 the Reading Stadium on the Oxford Road, north-west of the town was closed by the Greyhound Racing Association but the town of Reading soon had a replacement stadium when a company called Allied Presentations opened a new track accessed from the Bennet Road much further to the south of the town. The stadium was constructed on disused sludge beds and south of Island Road and north of Smallmead Road.
The stadium build was assisted by owner trainer Bill Dore who sat on the board of directors with Reg Fearman, F Higley and Len Silver. Martin Haigh would be Racing Manager.
Speedway
Main article: Reading Racers
Greyhound racing
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Greyhound_track_at_Reading_Stadium_Smallmead_c.1980.png" caption="Greyhound track at Reading Stadium Smallmead c.1980"] ::
Opening
The first greyhound meeting was held on 10 June 1975. The first race was won by Mr T Coleman's Journeywork over 433 metres in a time of 27.84 secs. The circuit was all sand surface with an 'Outside Sumner' hare system. The circumference was 385 metres with usual race distances consisting of 275, 465 and 660 metres.
1980s
The stadium introduced a significant competition called the Berkshire Cup and also resurrected the Hunt Cup.
Daleys Gold won the 1985 Scurry Gold Cup before Mollifrend Lucky trained by Colin Packham won the 1986 Scurry and Laurels in 1986. Martyn Dore (the son of Director and General Manager Bill Dore) was Racing Manager by 1988 as the track became renowned for having a strong class of runner.
1990s
In 1990 the Maldwyn Thomas trained greyhounds with the prefix ‘Trans’ began to win trophies and 1992 proved to be a very successful year starting with the announcement that a competition called the Reading Masters would take place. The race offered substantial prize money with only the English Derby and Scottish Derby able to top the £15,000 winner's prize. Poor Brian won the Oxfordshire Stakes for Ron Jeffrey (a former trainer at the old Reading track) and Bob Gilling's Skelligs Smurf became Oaks champion with Bixby (Bill Black) becoming the Puppy Derby winner.
Champion trainer John 'Ginger' McGee joined the training ranks in 1993 and won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year twice as a Reading trainer in 1993 and 1994.
2002-2008
The track underwent a major change in 2002 when the BS Group/Gaming International bought the venue from Allied Presentations. Terry Dartnall returned to the track as a trainer once again and won two Select Stakes with Cleenas Lady before retiring and handing the licence to son Matt who then won the Juvenile in 2008 with Ballymac Under.
Closure
In 2008 the local council refused to extend the tracks lease citing redevelopment plans. The plans for the company to build a new modern stadium came to nothing with the final meeting being held on 22 October 2008 and the stadium was demolished.
Competitions
Reading Masters
Main article: Reading Masters
Hunt Cup
Main article: Hunt Cup
Track records
At closing
The track records at the time of closing were - ::data[format=table]
| Metres | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 | Greenfield Box | 16.32 | 23 October 1982 | |
| 465 | Blue Murlen | 27.56 | 28 April 1997 | |
| 660 | Double Take | 40.50 | 14 December 2003 | Hunt Cup Final |
| 850 | Greenacre Lin | 53.26 | 16 September 2004 | |
| 1045 | Slaneyside Demon | 68.82 | 1 October 2006 | |
| 465 H | Druids Mickey Jo | 28.40 | 22 September 2005 | |
| 660 H | Gold Splash | 41.95 | 24 April 1993 | |
| :: |
Previous
::data[format=table]
| Metres | Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 465 | title=Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1978) September edition | newspaper=Greyhound Star}} | 28.77 | September 1978 |
| 465 | Kilmagoura Mist | 28.74 | September 1978 | Berkshire Cup heats |
| 465 | Saucy Buck | 28.63 | September 1978 | Berkshire Cup heats |
| 465 | Fevata Spec | 28.12 | 31 January 1987 | |
| 465 | Fearless Mustang | 28.10 | 9 April 1991 | Trainer's Championship |
| 465 | author= | issue=4 | volume=16 | date=4 April 1998 |
| 465 | Coomlogane Euro | 27.87 | 24 November 1994 | |
| 465 | Frisco Sir | 27.81 | 28 April 1997 | |
| 635 | Ballybeg Story | 1975 | ||
| 635 | Ballybeg Gem | Jan 1976 | ||
| 660 | Racewell Royale | 41.02 | 17 November 1987 | |
| 660 | Waltham Abbey | 41.00 | 22 October 1988 | |
| 660 | Airmount Flash | 41.00 | 1 December 1992 | |
| 660 | Hedsor Kurt | 40.90 | 21 August 1997 | |
| 660 | Lydpal Frankie | 40.71 | 16 May 1999 | |
| 850 | Jos Gamble | 54.50 | 19 November 1983 | |
| 850 | Cloverhill June | 54.28 | 1989 | |
| 850 | Ivory Lamb | 54.19 | 11 September 1990 | |
| 850 | Hedsor Erika | 54.03 | 21 August 1997 | |
| 850 | Lady Flyaway | 53.56 | 3 May 1998 | |
| 1045 | Home Yer Go | 68.60 | 1 November 1986 | |
| 1045 | Coverall | 68.09 | 30 November 1990 | |
| 1045 | Sandollar Sophie | 67.90 | 30 April 1994 | |
| 1045 | Souda Bay | 67.58 | 3 May 1998 | |
| 465 H | The Dingle Man | 28.93 | 8 January 1983 | |
| 465 H | Harbour Knight | 28.92 | 8 April 1991 | |
| 465 H | Gis A Smile | 28.58 | 30 April 1994 | |
| 465 H | Wisley Wonder | 28.45 | 22 May 1997 | |
| 660 H | Trixies Snipe | 42.51 | 19 November 1983 | |
| 660 H | Run On Tar | 41.96 | 30 November 1990 | |
| :: |
References
References
- "OS Plan 1976-1995". old-maps.co.uk.
- Genders, Roy. (1981). "The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing". Pelham Books Ltd.
- (2 June 2019). "Greyhound Star (Remember When - June)". Greyhound Star.
- Barnes, Julia. (1988). "Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File". Ringpress Books.
- Genders, Roy. (1990). "NGRC book of Greyhound Racing". Pelham Books Ltd.
- Dack, Barrie. (1990). "Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years". Ringpress Books.
- Fry, Paul. (1995). "The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook". Ringpress Books.
- (2012). "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) November edition". Greyhound Star.
- (2002). "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When) April edition". Greyhound Star.
- (20 January 2019). "Greyhound Star (Remember When - January 2002)". Greyhound Star.
- Hobbs, Jonathan. (2007). "Greyhound Annual 2008". Raceform.
- (22 July 2008). "Smallmead Stadium is set to shut in October". Get Reading.
- "Track records". Greyhound Data.
- "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1978) September edition". Greyhound Star.
- . (4 April 1998). "All Those Aprils". *Greyhound Star*.
- "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1976) January edition". Greyhound Star.
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